Regional oximetry pod

Abstract

A regional oximetry pod drives optical emitters on regional oximetry sensors and receives the corresponding detector signals in response. The sensor pod has a dual sensor connector configured to physically attach and electrically connect one or two regional oximetry sensors. The pod housing has a first housing end and a second housing end. The dual sensor connector is disposed proximate the first housing end. The housing at least partially encloses the dual sensor connector. A monitor connector is disposed proximate a second housing end. An analog board is disposed within the pod housing and is in communications with the dual sensor connector. A digital board is disposed within the pod housing in communications with the monitor connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A regional oximetry sensor comprising:
 at least one pair of sensors, wherein each sensor of the at least one pair of sensors comprises:
 a flex circuit; 
 at least one emitter electrically connected to the flex circuit and configured to emit light into skin of a user; 
 at least one detector configured to receive light reflected from the skin of the user, wherein the at least one detector comprises:
 a near-field detector electrically connected to the flex circuit; and 
 a far-field detector electrically connected to the flex circuit and spaced from the near-field detector; 
 
 a tape layer adhered to the flex circuit and configured to attach the sensor to the skin of the user; 
 wherein a first sensor of the at least one pair of sensors is configured to be located on a right side of a forehead of the user and wherein a second sensor of the at least one pair of sensors is configured to be located on a left side of the forehead of the user; and 
 
 a pod for receiving and processing one or more signals from the at least one pair of sensors based on light detected by the at least one detector, the pod comprising:
 a pod housing comprising an interior, a first housing end, and a second housing end; 
 a first sensor connector extending outward from the first housing end and configured to connect to the first sensor; 
 a second sensor connector extending outward from the first housing end and separate from the first sensor connector, the second sensor connector configured to connect to the second sensor; and 
 a processor arranged within the interior of the pod housing and configured to determine oxygen saturation of the user based on said one or more signals. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises:
 a lens, wherein the lens is mechanically connected to the at least one emitter, and wherein the lens extends from the tape layer such that the lens is configured to press against the skin of the user to maximize an optical transmission of the at least one emitter. 
 
     
     
       3. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises:
 an emitter temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the at least one emitter while the at least one emitter is transmitting light into the skin of the user. 
 
     
     
       4. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises:
 a detector temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the at least one detector while the at least one detector is receiving light reflected from the skin of the user. 
 
     
     
       5. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises:
 a lens, wherein the lens is mechanically connected to the at least one detector, and wherein the lens extends from the tape layer such that the lens is configured to press against the skin of the user to maximize an optical reception of the at least one detector. 
 
     
     
       6. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein each sensor further comprises:
 a first lens, wherein the first lens is mechanically connected to the near-field detector, and wherein the first lens extends from the tape layer such that the first lens is configured to press against the skin of the user to maximize an optical reception of the near-field detector; 
 a second lens, wherein the second lens is mechanically connected to the far-field detector, and wherein the second lens extends from the tape layer such that the second lens is configured to press against the skin of the user to maximize the optical reception of the far-field detector; and 
 a third lens, wherein the third lens is mechanically connected to the at least one emitter, and wherein the third lens extends from the tape layer such that the third lens is configured to press against the skin of the user to maximize an optical transmission of the at least one emitter. 
 
     
     
       7. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the pod further comprises a cable extending outward from the second housing end and configured to connect to a patient monitoring device. 
     
     
       8. The regional oximetry sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the pod further comprises:
 an analog board arranged within the interior of the pod housing, the analog board configured to receive and digitize said one or more signals received from the at least one pair of sensors; and 
 a digital board arranged within the interior of the pod housing, the digital board comprising said processor.